Thursday, May 23, 2013

And We're Not Even In Baltimore!

 We Call him "The Singer."
Over the past two years we starting getting a pair of Baltimore Orioles visiting our little garden of delights. After the first sighting, The Doodles went immediately  to Wild Birds Unlimited and bought a feeder. It only took an hour or so before it was discovered...and emptied!

This year we have at least 4 males and three females visiting daily. The one we call "The Singer" goes non stop everyday in one of our many trees. He's young, but impressive. It's amazing how all of their songs differ from area to area, and bird to bird. We have one nest under construction in on of our large trees and a pair are working in a tree two doors down from us as well.

We had been wondering about the lack of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in our gardens this year. I posted a question on the Ohio List Serve regarding this. It's seems to be a common mystery throughout north eastern Ohio this year. Maybe they traded places with the amazing number of orioles here...

 He's a little shy...

 "Nest Building From Behind!"
A new blog?
 
The craftsmanship of their nests is amazing...especially when you think about making it with your mouth!
 
 We have three feeders up and they still fight over them!
Just out of view is another male waiting his turn.

They don't even mind going to the "ugly" feeder!
The Doodles said I got carried away with the orange paint.
I told that's what you get for letting the color blind guy do it!

 This has got to be the fattest hummingbird ever!

 Oops...sorry about the fat thing...




Not a hummingbird after all...
She's still mad at me though...

Stay Tuned (as usual!)
I still haven't finished showing you more of those warbly things from Magee Marsh!
I think I may have taken too many photos...nah...no such thing as too many warbly shots!

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Little Miss EightySeven...

 Hello Little Miss EightySeven! Welcome to our garden...

While standing somewhat numb and making breakfast, I saw something odd flashing around in our gardens. A little warbly thing is always guaranteed to wake me up!And this was a new one for our little oasis in the city. A female Bay-breasted Warbly! Luckily my camera was taking up too much space on the kitchen counter(use your Doodle voice here!) I managed quite a few slightly fuzzy shots through the window.

While tracking her through the bushes and over the rocks to our small pond, what did I spy with my cameras eye? A Blackburnian Warbly splish splashing! Shelter, food and water are the keys to getting good birdies in your yard. What a great day to not be doing what I'm supposed to be doing and staring out the window instead! I need to do this more often...

 The tell tale booty of a Bay-breasted Warbly...and you thought taking butt shots was silliness.

 She's working her way to the water for a little bath.

 She paused when she saw the bath was occupied.

 By far, one of the worst Blackburnian Warbly photos ever taken in the United States.
I got skills....

 Whoa! Wait a second...who's that running across the back of the pond?
It's a female Common Yellowthroat!

And in the front garden, lurking through the shrubs and evergreens was her main man!
We don't often see this many warblies in our gardens on the same day.
 I found it to be a good excuse to stay home and bird watch from home...
We're now up to 87 species at our home!

Stay tuned for more of...
Yard Birdin'!